OVERVIEW

Classic Vietnam

This tour offers a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s people, culture and landscapes, from Hanoi - the historic and colonial Capital - to Ha Long Bay - famed for its beautiful landscapes -. You will have the chance to journey from the peaceful, quiet beautifully preserved streets of old Hoi An and Hue to the busy avenues of Saigon. You will also have the chance to visit the very foundations of the revolution and some of the major historic sites of the Vietnam War such as the Cu Chi Tunnels. This tour will also give you a taste of life on the Mekong River and its tributaries.

ITINERARY

Hanoi | Halong | Hue | Hoi An | Ho Chi Minh | Cu Chi | Mekong Delta

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Day 01

Hanoi Arrival

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam's Capital

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals: None

Upon arrival in Hanoi, your driver will personally meet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is time at leisure.

Day 02

Hanoi

Enjoy a city tour of Hanoi

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Meet your tour guide at the hotel lobby. Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, House-on-Stilts, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar pagoda. After that visit of the Temple of Literature that was originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society place then and now on education.

Lunch at a nice restaurant.

After lunch, continue your tour with a visit of the Museum of Ethnology, widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground. Then, go back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends.

A 45 minute Cyclo Tour takes you through the Old Quarter. Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities.

Before going back to your hotel, attend to a traditional water puppet show at Thang Long Theartre.

Day 03

Hanoi - Halong Bay

Cruise in Halong Bay

Accommodation: Halong bay cruise

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

In the morning, departure for Halong Bay through the scenic countryside. The world heritage site Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Heading out of the town, embark on a Chinese style junk for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay.

A seafood lunch will be served while cruising through the bay. The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches.

Explore the Surprising Sung Sot cave with amazing original stalactites and stalagmites.

Day 04

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue

Continue to enjoy the cruise and take a flight to Hue

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Wake up in the morning with the calming sound of waves crashing on the nearby islands. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and relax. Sitting on the upper deck, make the most of the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal clear water of the bay. The quiet is almost eerie, you can hear birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.

Explore Luon cave.

The boat starts cruising back while a brunch buffet is served on board.

At noon, your private car with tour guide will transfer you to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hue.
Arrive in Hue city, meet your tour guide and transfer to your hotel. Check-in and relax.

Day 05

Hue

Enjoy a full day city tour of Hue best known highlights

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

In the morning, take a boat trip along the poetic Perfume River to reach the ancient Thien Mu pagoda, a special cultural and historical site preserving a legendary tale about the Heaven Fairy Lady since Nguyen Dynasty.

The car picks you up to Hue Citadel. Here, walk around and take a look into the special feudal relics of immense architectural and cultural values.

A vegetarian lunch will be served by the nuns of the pagoda. This gives a fascinating insight into the life of religious people in the area.

After lunch, visit the tomb and monument of King Tu Duc, located in a very beautiful area. This is an opportunity to learn more about Nguyen Kings and to enjoy the spectacular landscape.

Day 06

Hue - Hoi An

Travel from Hue to Hoi An

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

In the morning, pick up from your hotel in Hue and drive to Hoi An. Hoi An developed most of its uniquely eclectic townscape between the 16th and 19th centuries. During most of this time Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab merchants. Over the years, many elements of these diverse architectural styles blended harmoniously with indigenous Vietnam features. Hoi An was relatively untouched by the Vietnam War, so the old world charm is stil in. Enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the Japanese Bridge.

Day 07

Hoi An - Cam Thanh Coconut Village - Tra Que Herb Village

Have a day tour to Cam Thanh Coconut Village and attend to a Cooking Class At Tra Que Herb Village

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

The day begins by cycling along level ground to the Thu Bon River to visit a local fishing village. Ride along country lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and pause to see farmers toiling in their rice fields using centuries of farming practices. Peddle your way through palm forests, across bridges, fields of water buffalo, etc.

Take a short break in a local family at Cam Thanh Village before enjoying 1.5 hours ride on traditional Basket Boat (round boat) in the Water Coconut Palm Forest. Learn how to sail the basket boat and try to catch fishes and “purple crabs” in the Canal.

Continue to drive to Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village where a large variety of vegetable are produced for the local community. At the village, you will be shown the environmentally sustainable practices which the local villagers have used for centuries and is still being used extensively today.

Meet a local family and after a short, informative and fun cooking lesson, sit down for a delicious lunch.

After lunch, come back your hotel and free time.

Day 08

Hoian

Free day

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

Today you are free to go around the ancient town or relax on beach on your own.

Day 09

Hoian - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City

Transfer to the airport of Danang for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast

Free morning.

In the afternoon, your driver will transfer you to Danang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh city.

Upon arrival, your tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city. Check-in and relax.

Day 10

Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi Tunnels

Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels and Ho Chi Minh city

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

In the morning, meet Asia Top Travel's tour guide at your hotel lobby and depart for a drive through the pleasant countryside before arriving at Cu Chi. Explore the tunnels where the Vietnamese could escape bombings, hide from enemy, and mount surprise attacks. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers.

After lunch in Cu Chi, head back to Ho Chi Minh city and take a half day city tour. Start by looking at the Notre Dame Cathedral built between 1877 and 1883. This is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Nearby is the Old Post Office, another example of French colonial architecture and is also the country’s largest post office. Then, Move on to see the Reunification Palace. This is one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30th 1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. After that, continue with a visit of the War Remnants Museum (Museum of American War Crimes), this is a poignant display of the futility of war. Before finishing the tour, depending on the timing, there is a wide selection of goods at Ben Thanh Market to see.

Day 11

Ho Chi Minh - Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh

Enjoy a full day tour to Mekong delta and Ben Tre coconut land

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

In the morning, meet your tour guide in your hotel lobby and transfer through the Mekong Delta to Ben Tre. The boat will cruise along the Ham Luong river (a branch of the Mekong) and stop at various local workplaces to give you a picture of how the local economy works, including a brickworks, where bricks are still painstakingly made by hand; a coconut processing workshop, where you can sample fresh coconut and see how every single part of this versatile nut is turned into food and other products; and a mat weaving house, where straw mats are woven using a hand loom – you can even have a go at weaving yourself! The boat will then stop at a quiet village where you can have a short walk to experience real Delta village life, before boarding your xe loi (a kind of motorized rickshaw) and traveling into the forest where you can visit fruit orchards before stopping at a riverside restaurant for a delicious and filling lunch, featuring local specialties as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp, washed down with some cold drinks or beers.

It’s time to board a sampan for a relaxing trip along narrow canals. Take the boat back to the Pier and head back to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12

Ho Chi Minh Departure

Say goodbye to our team in Ho Chi Minh city!

Accommodation: None

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, free time at your own leisure until transfer to the airport for your flight departure.

Note

Day 7: For those uncomfortable with a pushbike, then other methods of transport can be arranged.